Automatic pencil



Patented Apr. lli, 1323.

naar a' S ma AUTOMATIC Fmi ill sa ro n. Y.; aan roar.

i vfse:

Application le Becemloer 22, 1921. aerial No, 524,653.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, RAPHAL NEWER, a citizen of the Republic of France,residing at New `York city, in the county and State of-New York, U. S.A., have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Automatic`Fencils, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to pencils. More speciically it relates toreillable pencils in which a crayon may be fed forwardly from the bodyor casing of the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a pencil inwhich the crayon may be fed forwardly by the actuation of a pushelement, preferably a push button.

Another object is to provide a pencil wherein the crayon may be fedforwardly or released for retractive movement by the actnation of a ushelement', referably a push button. @t er objects and advantages willappear as the invention is hereinafter disclosed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what l now consider preferredforms of the invention f.

Fig. 1 isl a longitudinal ,section through one form of pencil embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail elevation, partly in section, of thepencil shown in Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view, partly in section, ofthe structure shownin Flg. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections taken substantially on the lines 4-4, 5 5,and 66, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively perspective views of a lever and pawl:forming a part of the structure shown 1n Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a fragmentaelevation, partly in section, of a modified orm of pencll.

Fig. 1'0 is a section taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar toiFig. 9 but illustrating a furthermodification.

Fig. 12 is a' detail sectional elevation illustrating still anothermodification.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a -view similar to Fig. 11 but illustrating a furthermodification.

o Referrlng to Figs. 1 to 8 it will be seen that the pencil thereillustrated comprises a casing 10 having at one end a tip 11 and.

through an opening 37 in the tube i ga' ra at the other a cap 12. Thecap 12 is adapted frictionally to fit the casing in the position shownin Fig. 1 or in a position reversed with respect to that position so asto expose 'for use Ithe eraser 13. The pencil is provided with acrayon-receiving bore and preferably with any suitable means forimposing a rlctional force upon the crayon to prevent `inadvertent oraccidental movement of the crayon with respect to the body of thepencil.

The tip 11 is detachable from the barrel 10 by virtue of the cooperatingscrewthreads 14 provided on the interior of the tip and on the exteriorof a sleeve 15 frictionally or otherwise held in said barrel.

@ne form of operating or crayon-feeding mechanism will now be described.

A longitudinally movable follower rod or member 36 and a longitudinallymovable member 31, in this instance, serves as a pawl to enga e ratchetteeth32 provided upon the enlarge extension 33 of the follower rod. Thelatter is adapted to enter the bore of the sleeve 16 to push the crayon17 from the pencil and extends into a sleeve or tube 34 secured withinthe casing or barrel 10 by means such as annular spacer blocks 35 and36. The active end of the pawl 31 asthlses s opening being of suicientsize to permit'the pawl to impart the desired movement to the rack 33and consequently to the follower rod. A spring 38 secured to tube 34,and extending through an opening 39 thereof intoengpment with theratchet teeth 40 on the c 33, is provided to prevent overthrow oraccidental movement of the rack. If the pawl 31 is held in the` sitionshown in Fig. 1 it will prevent the fo ower rod, and consequently thecrayonv 17, from lbeing forced into the n'cil. And if the pawl 31 1smoved forward y the follower rod and crayon will A be correspondinglymoved thereby. I therefore provide devices for normally holding the pawl31 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and for actuatin or reciprocating thepawl. One'form of suc means 1s shown in Flgs. 1 to 8 and may beconstructed as follows.

The pawl 31 is guided in its longitudinal movement by the slots 41 and42, in the blocks 36 and 37, through which said pawl passes, and isfurther guided in such movel ment by the slots 43, 43, in the member 15,

ze l actuating member r31 are provided. rlhe the edges of the slots 43,43 as a c or pivot.. A spring 45 secured tothe pawl and engag casin 10biases the awl toward the rack 33. To pawl is biase toward the head orbutt end of the pencil by means ot a compression. spring 46 mounted in abore 47 in the bloch 15 and engaging the pawl betweenthe bifurcations44, 44.

A bell crank lever 50 is pivoted at 51 to the block 15 and movable in aslot provided in said block. This lever has a biurca'- arm 52, whichextends acrossthe casing y1() and through which the 30 e Thebifurcations 52 terminate in reduced elements 53, each of which isadapted to enter a corresponding one of the notches 54 rovided in thepawl. The other arm of the ell 'crank lever is provided with a portion55, adated to be engaged by and to engage a ush "t utton 56, and 1sprovided also with ifurcated end 57 through which the rod 30 extends.tions 57, 57 are designed to engage and operate the pawl 31 laterallywhen the push button has been actuated to a suilicient extent. The ushbutton 56 is generally in the form o a cylinder and extends through an.aperture 60 in the side wall of the casing 10 and is slidable in atransverse bore 61 in the `block 36. Directing specific attention toFig. 4, it will be noted that the push button is slotted at 62 andstraddles the lever 50 and pawl 31. 1t will be noted further thatl theush button is rovided with shoulders 63 w ich are adapte to engage the-underside of the pawl 31 to limit the outward movement of the said pushbutton. The various operations in assembling the parts of the pencil andthe comparative ease' with which th operations may be rformed uw beapparent to those skilled in the art inview o the foregoing descriptionand therefore need not be set forth. After having been assembled, thepencil shown in Figs. 1 to 8 is so designed and constructed as tooperate substantially as follows:

en theparts occupy the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the.--ncil is in condition for use, i. e., it may employed to write. rlhepawl 31 is preven from moving longitudinally toward the head 12 byvirtue of the lever 50- and push button 56. The pawl 31 thereforeserves, at this time, to 'event the crayon 17 from mofa i" into or ingforced into the pencil. 1'.

'lhe extremities of the bifurcamedias a button 56 causes the lever 50 tomove clock- 57 thereof to engage the pawl 31 to move the latter out ofengagement with the rack 33. Jlhis is an important feature in that, by

virtue of this construction, the rack may be released and the crayon 17may be forced back into the pencil at any time, and this release isedected by operation of the same .element 56 employed to cause feedmovement of the crayon; en the push button is released, the springs 45and 46 return the parts 31, 50-and 56 to the position shown in ig. 1.rlFhe s ring 38 prevents movement of the rack 33 by the back or returnstroke of the pawl 31.

As the crayon becomes consumed it is fed forward a step each-time thepush button 56 is depressed. When completely consumed the pencil may berechard by unscrewing the tip 11 from the bo portion 10, iiiserting anew crayon into the bore, depressing push button 56 to release the pawl31, pushing the follower rod back into the barrel 10, and then screwingthe tip 11 back upon the said body portion. The pencil may then beemployed in the manner above described. rlhe extra leads or othercrayons may be stored in the ampl magazine space 64, accessible byremoving the head 12.

1 shall not enumerate all of the advantarges gained by my invention but1 wish to direct particular 'attention to the fact that a singleactuation of the radially movable push button 56 feeds the crayon 17forward a substantial amount, i. e., an amount substantially equivalentto the additional exposure of crayon incident to the sharpening of anordinary wooden ncil. This feature is rendered possible, wit outincreasing the diameter of the vvbarrel 10 to ungainly and unwieldyproportions and without bending or dexing the follower rod, b theextension of the arm 52 and thepus button 56 substantially across theinterior of the casing. Other important advantages will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description.

The form of invention described above is susceptible to modication invarious respects. Thus the lever 50 may be omitted and the push buttonmay be employed directly to operate the pawl. @ne form of mechanism thusmodified is illustrated in momies drical bore 6l of the'blook 36 but isprovidedl with a pin operable in a slot 7l, in the block 36, to preventrotational movement oi' the push button and to limit the extent ofoutward radial movement. Here Vagain the push button is slotted orprovided with an opening to straddle the follower rod 30. 'lhe lowerfaces 72, 72 of the push hutten are inclined as indicated and are eachadapted to cooperate with a corresponding one ci a pair of inclinedlaces on the pawl 31B. The push button is rovid also with a pair ofshoulders 7d' a apted to en' gage the upper surface of the pawl 31 andto move the pawl laterally at the end of the. feed stroke.

en itis desired tofeed the lead or crayon forwardly, the push button 56is depressed as descri in connection with the pencil shown in Figs. l to8. 'lhis causes the pawl 31 to move forwardly hy virtue of the action ofthe cooperating inclined faces. 72 and 73. The pawl 3l! therehv movesthe rack 33 forwardly one step and at the end of the feed stroke theshoulders `712i engage thepawl so that *con-v tinued depression of thepush hutten releases.

the pawl from the rack. en the push button is released the spri d5, d6,come into play to restore theparts 3l, 56, to the position sho in Fig.'9, the spring 38 holding the raclr in the position to which it has heenaetuated. Except for diilerences set forth above, the construction andoperation oi the form of pencil illustrated in Figs. 9 and l0 is the mmeas that shown in Figs. l to 8.

Further modiiications may he resorted to without departing from thegeneric invention. For example, the spring 45:5 may be dispensed with.Ior the longitudinal move ment of the pawl moy he employed to edect itslateral release moveent etc. Changes in construction such as those lastmentioned are illustrated in Fig. il. yllhe elements lll, li, 30. 33,35, 33 and dt `are the same es those illustrated in Figs. l to 8 andFigs. 9 and lll. The element l5a in Fig. il is the same as the elementl5 in Fig. 9. However., the *following changes should he noted in theelements 3l". 34". 36" and 56 corresponding inspectivelv to the elements3l, 3ds, 36a and 53a of Figs. 9 and l0. The pawl 3l", instead of movinglnterally about the hloclr l5 as a ilulcrlnn. loends shout the hloch 36as a hilcrurn and the inherent liency of the end of the pawl is reliedupon to hins it to ratchet-engaging msition. This change of i rocatoryot the line lll- X in Fig. ll. ln other fulcrum is eiiected h em lo g anopening 80, in the block 303g (sedFig'lllL) instead of the slot lshownin Figs. l and 9. yThe pawl 31? is providw with a lug or projection 8ladapted to engage a struck up portion 82. 70 on the sleeve 34" so as tomove vthe pawl 31" out of ratchet-engaging position at the end of thefeed strokev of the pawl. By virtue of this construction the shoulders74,74 (Figs. 9 and 10) may be and are dis%nsed with in 75 'the form ofpencil shown in When the ipush hutten 56 is deprsed, the `oooperatinginclined faces 72, 73 cause the 'pawl`3lb to move forwardly to actuatethe rack 33 one step. 'At the end of the feed 80 stroke the elements 81,82, cause the pawl' 'to become disengagedfrom the rack th.

When the push'butto'n 56h-is released the s ring 46 and theinherentresiliency cause t e parts 56band 3l to assume the position 85shown in Fig. 11. The o ration of the pencil shown in Fig. 1l wil now beunderstood, in view of the foregoing description in connection withFigs. l to 10.

ln all forms ci the invention thus far described the longitudinallymovahle follower rod or member 30 is provided with 'rackforming orratchetfforming teeth and the member 3l (01"31 or 31) construe in theform of a pawl. rlhis structure may he modified by providing teeth onthe recipmember and a pawl on the follower rod. An example of such anarrament is shown in Figs. 12 and i3 to which reference is now me.

e follower rod 30 is provided with anl enlarw portion or extension 33which is guided in its longitudinal movement hy the tube 34e. 'lhistuloe is mounted in the cesing l() in a manner similar to the tuhes 3dand 3d in the preceding hgure's, i. e. hy means including a spacermember 35. rllhe portion 33a of the follower rod is provided with atooth or pawl adapted to he engaged and operatedv hy a raclr or ratchetmemher 9i. The latter 'is connected. to a member 3l which in turn may heoperated hy vmechanism such as that shown in Figs. l, 9 or ll,preierahly that shown to the left;

words, the member 3F (Fig. l2) would constitute the right hand portionand that portion ot the member 3l which lies to the lett of the lineX--X in Fig. ll would constitute the lett hand portion of thelongitudinally reciprocating memher. The nach @l ishiased topawl-engaging position hy any suitable means such as a springdie. lnorder to disengage the rech from the pawl 90 at the end oit' the feedstrohe o? the former, the rech may he provided with a plnrnlity oi pins95 each adapted to enge a corresponding one oi inclined portions 96'provided on the outwardly turned .edges 36 mi 4'the tuhe 3ft. The designand m lll construction are such that this torm ot mechanism will operatesubstantially as tollows.

When the push button is depressed, the members 31c and 91 move forwardto operate the pawl 90 and follower rod 30 one step in a forwarddirection. At the end of the leed stroke the pins 95 cooperating withthe inclined portions 96 cause the ratchet or rack 91 to becomedisengaged trom the pawl 90. Upon release of the push button the partsare automatically restored to original position with the exception ofthe follower rod 30C, which is held in the position to which it has beenactuated by friction or byother suitable means. y

ln Fig. 1d l illustrate a form ot pencil in which the member 56d isshown in the form of a manually operable slidable member, mounted forslidable movement in'reverse directions parallel to the axis ot thepencil, the slide member being mounted in a suitable opening or apertureprovided in the side wall of the casing 10d nearer the tip than to theother end of the pencil. lt will be noticed that the member 56 isprovided with a de reslsion or concave portion adapted to receiveftheoperators tinger or thumb to facilitate manual operation. .The elementd10d, 15, 30d, 33d, 34d, 35a, 38d and ll` correspond generally to thesimilar elements which are designated by the same numerals, withdiderent subscripts, in the other figures. y 'lhe member .56d may beprevented trom turning in its slot by any suitable means. For examplethe shanh ot' said member and the said slot may be so designed as topermit sliding but to prevent turning ot the slide 56'1 with respect tothe pencil casing. 'llhe pawl 101 is provided with an annular portlonor'ring 100 which surrounds the shank ot the member 56d and is securedthereto by means ol a pin 70d. llt'will be noted that said pin 70 andring 100 prevent outward radial movement ot- .the member 56 when theparts are assembled. Yll`he parts Bld and 82i correspond `to theelements 81 and 82 in Fig. 1l. yl`his lor-m ot pencil is constructed anddesigned to operate as lollows.

"lo :leed the crayon forward, the slide 56d is moved toward the penciltip. Such movement actuates the gwwl 101 to leed the follower rod andcrayon forwardly one step. At the end ot the leed stroke the parts 81",82 cause the pawl to be thrown laterally away `trom the rack 33d. Theoperation ot this form ot ncil will now be clearly understood in view otthe foregoing description in connection with lFig. 14: and the precedingfigures.

lln accordance with the provisions ot the patent statutes, ll haveherein described the principle of operation of my invention, to-

:nomine some ot these may be altered and others omitted and some ot thefeatures of each moditication may be embodied in the others withoutinterfering with the more general results and eects outlined, and theinvention extends to such use.

What l claim is v l. A pencil comprising in combination a casing havinga tip through which a' crayon is adapted to be ted;` releasable meanscarried by said casing tor preventing movement oit al crayon 'inwardlthrough said tip; means, comprising a pus button accessible from theexterior ot said casing and mounted for sliding movement toward and awayfrom the anis ot .said casing. lor feeding a crayon outwardly throughsaid tip upon depression or said push button; and means called intoaction' upon'lturther depression of said push but/ton tor releasing saidreleasable means to permit a crayon to more inwardly through said tip.

2. A pencil comprising in combination, a casing having a tip throughwhich acrayon is adapted to be fed, a follower rod slidably mountedinsaid casing and adapted to ropel a crayon through said tip, a pushutton slidably mounted with respect to 'said casing and accessible fromthe exterior ot the pencil tor manual operation, a lever mounted withinsaid casing and operable by said push button, and pawl and ratchetconnecting saldi mechanism operatively lever and follower rod. v

3. A pencil comprising in combination, e casing having a tip throughwhich a cra on is adapted to be ted, a follower rod slidably mounted insaid casing and adapted to pro. pel a crayon through said tip, a pushbutton vslidably mounted with respect to said casing and accessible fromthe exterior of the pencil for manual operation, a member mounted withinsaid casing tor longitudinal reciprocating movement with respectthereto, means operatively connecting said member and tollower rodwhereby reciprocatin movement ot said member imparts longilll@ tudinalcrayon-leed movement lto said rod,

and operative connections between said push button and member.

la. A pencil comprising in combination, a casing having a tip throughwhich a crayon is adapted to be ted, a follower rod slidably mounted insaid casing and adapted to propel a crayon through said tip, a pushbutton slidably mounted with respect to said casing and accessible tromthe exterior ci I ton carried b s owing, crayonui e the pencil formanual' operation, a lever mounted within said casing and extendingacross' said follower rod, said lever being operable by said .pushbutton, and means operatively connecting said lever and fols lower rodfor imparting step-by-step movement to the lamer by actuation of saidpush button. v

5.` A pencil comprising in combination, a casing having a ti t throughwhich a crayon is adapted to be ed, said casing having a side wallaperture, a follower rod slidahly mounted in said casing and adapted topropel a crayon through said tip, a push button rried by the pencil andslidably mounted in said aperture, and means, comprising a lever throughwhichV said follower rod `extends, for operating Vsaid follower rod bymanual operation vof said push button.,

6. A pencil comprising in combination, a casing having a tip throughwhich a crayon is adapted to be fed, a follower rod slidably mounted insaid casing and adapted to rorpel ya crayon through said tip, a pushutwhich said io ower rod extends, and means lor operatirug` saidfollower rod by manual operation of said push button.

7. il pencil comprising in combination, a casing having a tip throughwhich a crayon is adapted to be ted; a follower rod sli ably mounted insaid casing and Napted to propel a crayon through said tip; a pushIbutton carried by said casingy and through which said follower vroelextends; and mea s, including a lever through which said lo lowerentends, for operating said follower r by manual operation of said pushbutton. p

8. A pencil compris in combination, a casing having a tip through whichacrayon is adapted to be led, a follower rod slidably mounted in saidcasing end adapted to pro-a pel a crayon through vsaid tip, n membermounted within said eosin ier loitudinal mounted nenrer to the tip thento the opini-1 eite end oil the pencil for movement toward the unis ofseid casing, means -tor moving the push element awey from the unis cithe mechanim within seid und opende e by depression oli seid push ,isc

said casing and throughextending throu h the tip of said casmg,

means operable y said elementand comprising a toothed follower elementfor forcing the crayon through said tip,and spring means biasing saidelement toward one of its positions.

ll. A pencil comprising in combination, a casing' having a tip throughwhich a crayon is adap to be fed, an element movably mounted withrespect tosaid casing at a position nearer to the tip than to theopposite end oi the encil and accessible from the exterior of saidcasing, means comprising a pawl for normally preventing a crayon frombeing forced into said casing,

m inclu ,g said pawl and operable by said element for feeding a crayonthrou h said tip, and spring means biasing mid e ement tow one of itspositions.

l2. A neil comprising in combination; a casing having a tip throughwhich a crayon 1s vadap to be t; releasable means carried by said casingfor preventing movement of a crayon inw fly thro A gli said ti zu'means, comprising a push element accessile from the exterior of saidcasing i :i moun for movement towa the axis ing a crayon outwardlythrough said tip own `depression oli said push n means call@ into actionupon further depression oi' said push element tor reling said reieblemeans to pet a cruyon to move inwardly through said tip, and nf. for -mothe push element away from the anis of the casing. lh. .h pencilcomprising in combtion, a casing having a tip through which n crayon isadapted to he ted, a follower rod slidably mounted in said casing andadapted to propel a crayon through said tip, an ele ment movably mountedwith respect to said casing at eil-position nearer the tip than to theother end or? said pencil and eccessible from the exterior ot the penciltor mmual operntion, e lever mounted within seid casing and operable bysaid element, and means including a pawl rod und ratchet moche nismoperatively connecting lever and follower n lo, il. pencil comprising incombination, a cesing heving e tip through which e l .F cre ron is to hefeel, a rollower rod sli nbly mrnmtenl in said c and adapted to e crayonthrough seid tip, an element movebly mounted to said casing et aposition the tip than to the other end of the L-encil and noble theenmrior ofthe pencil for manuel operetion, spring menne biasing mitielefment tovveid one of its entions, e member? loei end follower Mwhereby reciprocating movement ot eeitl member impeite longitntlinnloneven-feed movement to seid tool, end opeietive connections betweenseid element en memizeix l5. A pencil comprising in combinetion9 e.casing having e tipv tlnongh which n cindvon is adopted to be im, nfollower roel eli eloly mounted nn seid easing end @adopted to propel ecmyon through seid tip en element moveloly mounted with respect to seidcasing et e position nearer the tip thon to tlie otliei enel oi Seidlpencil end eocessilile from the exmi'ioin of time pencil toi mennelopeintion9 e leveia mounted within seid cee- Mme-ee ing enel extendingecifose seiol tollovvei' tomi, Seid leveil being opei'nlole loy eeiol lelement,

endl menne operatively connecting mini leven ing e side Well epeitnie, nollovvei nodi to eliolebly mounted in seid easing ond ndepted to propele eioyon through seid tip9 en eiement cei'i'ieal by the pencil entimovnlily monntm in seid oportuno, endl menne, comprising e leverthi-ongli which Seidl i'ollovvei 35 rod extentie, foi' operating eeiolfollower nodi by manuel opei'etion of seid element ln testimony WheieoiIl hereto etin my y ectnetion of eeid'.,

